Short Synopsis

Ivan Povarenko deserts his position one night at a Russian army base in Gyumri, Armenia, enters a house and uses his automatic to kill all the members of the family living there, not even sparing the children.

Everyone is shocked at the news of the incident. People take to the streets to protest.

A priest, Father Avetis, who has a good reputation in the city, tries everything he can to calm the upset crowds.

Vahan and Sargis, close friends and army veterans who served together, decide to look for Ivan and deliver justice themselves. Ani, Vahan’s wife, is anxious at this development.

Father Avetis convinces Vahan and Sargis to avoid committing this sin… but the thought of restoring dignity does not leave him in peace.

The following day, the army base commander requests Father Avetis to visit Ivan, who is now under arrest, since that news might calm down the protesters.

The priest meets with the killer at the detention center in the army base and is faced with a dilemma…

Directors’ Notes

This film is based on real events. The main incident is the chilling massacre carried out by a Russian soldier, whom we have named Ivan Povarenko, which causes unrest among a whole nation.

This story was such an emotional one for us that we created our own version of how the events developed and the conclusion to which they reached.

This film is about dignity, which is the most vulnerable possession anyone can have – irrespective of ethnic belonging, social status or situation. It is dignity that forces one to take action of any kind, to disagree with stereotypes, to consider violence unacceptable and, finally, dignity is the guarantor of freedom.

…We often make sacrifices in order for justice and dignity to be restored, but those sacrifices are not always ones that the Almighty would justify.